Author's Notes: I'm sorry for the really late chapter guys! I dint get to write for three days because I've been caught with some unexpected events. But don't worry, it's all over now! And for all those who have read until Chapter 8 and this chapter, thank you all! Really! I'm happy I got more than 400 views now (and the thing's not even a tenth finished)! I expected only 200 views, but WOW. And the fact that my first ever story had a lot of views made me EXPLODE! I'm only 13 and you guys made me proud of it! Thanks a whole lot for the encouraging views!
Sorry, I got carried away there... Here's chapter 9. Oh, please read and review.
Chapter 9
"Shade Crystal"
"Wait... So you guys felt the cold again?"
Starlow, Mario, Luigi, and Scuro were discussing, resuming their previous debate yesterday. Mario and Luigi had talked with Princess Peach of their experience in Dimble wood. Starlow, who was also at the castle during that time, overheard and joined in on the conversation. The princess was clueless and had no idea what to make of the news, so she suggested to meet up with Scuro.
They agreed and now they were here under the Toad Town caves and in the Dark Star's prison chamber. The princess was busy and insisted that she stay in the castle, leaving the trio alone with the Dark Star. It seemed like a bad idea to leave without a peacemaker in the group, but at least the Dark Star wasn't being irritable... for now. In fact, he seemed very interested.
"Well, not exactly... but I think the sudden death of trees is just as suspicious. I think they're connected." Mario exclaimed. He turned to the Dark Star who began to speak.
"The dark power is capable of those feats. Even the mere presence of pure darkness could choke anyone of their life. I had those abilities... I could recognize it."
"Are you sure it's not just you?" Starlow asked the ancient relic with slight suspicion.
"I had felt the cold aura yesterday. It would be preposterous to think that I would affect myself with the dark power. To remind you, the dark power does not seem to obey me anymore. I currently do not have the capability to do such feats." Scuro glowered at the star sprite for still being suspicious of him.
"It may not be you, but I just get the feeling it's related to you." The star sprite answered back. The Dark Star would've thought that still meant he was questionable, but understanding slowly crept into his thoughts.
"Are you saying it's connected with him?" Luigi asked the star sprite.
"Maybe. But we're not sure."
"We need to find more answers. There's no doubt something big is about to happen, but we still aren't sure what to do about it... Anyone got ideas?" Mario asked the group.
"None to be assured with." The Dark Star replied.
"But we do know darkness is involved, right? I mean, we think what happened was caused by dark power. Then that means what we're facing here is connected with darkness." Luigi thought deeper. "But the Dark Star is the only thing we know that controls darkness." The Dark Star glared warningly at Luigi, who immediately corrected his statement. "But it could be anyone! Er... right?"
"Yeah..." Starlow looked down, deep in thought. "Do any of you guys know anyone else that controls dark power? Only the live ones, of course..." Scuro looked at her expectantly, reminding her of his questionability. "... and exempting the Dark Star." She added.
Mario rubbed his chin in thought. Luigi scratched his head, fruitlessly coming up with an answer. "No..." Both Mario and Luigi answered in unison. Starlow sighed at their slow progress. She looked at the Dark Star, expecting something from the ancient relic.
He spoke, noticing the star sprite looking expectantly at him. "My dream... Perhaps the creature that I saw possesses the ability to control dark power. It even claimed that when we conversed... albeit indirectly." Scuro speculated.
"That actually makes sense..." Mario admitted.
"Well... Does anyone know anything about this creature?" Starlow asked no one in particular.
"Nope." Luigi stated on behalf of Mario, who nodded. The Dark Star, meanwhile, thought deeper, not wanting to give a false answer. He looked up with a defeated sigh.
Starlow sighed in frustration. They weren't going to get any promising answers at this pace.
The Dark Star glared at the trio. "This kingdom beholds many smart minds. I presume confidently that your castle has intelligible personnel?" Scuro asked the trio quizzically.
The brothers and star sprite blinked in surprise at his question. The trio stared at each other, wondering why they didn't do that. "Um... No." Luigi said meekly as he looked at the ancient relic apologetically.
Scuro gave them a disapproving look. His eyes glowed brighter and his gaze hardened.
Mario chuckled nervously. "Ehehe... I think we're leaving now."
Luigi took a few steps back, inching towards the chamber exit. He ran off unable to hold his ground. Mario waved nervously at the ancient relic and followed his brother out of the room, Starlow not far behind.
...
Meanwhile in the castle, Toadbert cleaned the library. He had to clean the room where all the Mushroom kingdom and the world's history were recorded. There were tens of thousands of books in the library, and the Toad needed to dust each one clean. Even though he had help, he was expecting about a few thousand books to tend to. But Toadbert wouldn't complain. It was an important task assigned to him, and he didn't want to disappoint the princess.
He finished dusting his 1,348th book and returned it to its waxed wooden shelf. He proceeded to pick another from his pile of dusty encyclopedias. He grabbed a black, heavy, and degraded book. A brown and worn out leather belt wrapped around it. It was held secure by a bronze metal lock. It had no legible title, as it was written in an unknown language. Toadbert eyed the book intriguingly, sensing the book's importance. He felt an urge to open it and take a peek at its contents, but he decided against it. It was worn out and easy to break, but it was castle property; he can't destroy it. Besides if he broke it, he would be in-
Before he could finish his thoughts, Luigi, Mario, and Starlow busted in. "Hey Toadbert!" Luigi called for his attention. Toadbert was so engrossed in his thoughts that he was caught off guard by their sudden appearance. Out of surprised reflex, he launched the book into the air. It made a sickening scrunch as it hit the floor. Toadbert could only hope he hadn't damaged the book. Otherwise, it wasn't good for him... and his freedom.
"Gah! Mario! Luigi! Starlow! Don't do that! You almost gave me a heart attack! Um... Is there anything I can do for you, by boogity?" Toadbert asked the trio, wondering what the reason was for their unexpected visit.
"Toadbert, yeah! Erm... We need your help with something." Starlow answered.
"Well, what can I do to help?" The Toad asked them as he retrieved the fallen book.
"Do you know anything about a huge, dark creature? I know it sounds like something that came out of nowhere, but really, this is urgent." The star sprite was careful not to mention anything about the Dark Star to Toadbert. The Toad didn't need to know anything about the ancient relic's presence nor would they want to tell him. He is a smart person, but they didn't need to risk the secrecy.
Toadbert looked down at the book he was holding. He felt that it held some significance to the trio's urgent matter. "I just came across this book while dusting my pile..." The Toad showed them the book he held and gestured towards his waist-deep stack of dusty media. "I think this holds some of your answers. I don't know what's in it, but I do know it might mean something, by boogity."
Starlow eyed the book and she focused on the bronzed lock. "How do we open this? It's decayed and easy to break, but we can't just go and destroy books. Especially one from the castle!"
Toadbert picked the book up and checked it for any damages. Much to Toadbert's dismay, the leather belt had ripped in half, leaving the lock to hang loosely on the book's other side. "I, uh... think it's too late to worry about that." He said nervously as he showed them the ripped belt.
"Oh! Just open it then! We can fix that later." Starlow hurried the Toad to open the book. Toadbert looked worried and nervous, but he casted the negative thoughts away. At least the book was open and now they could read it. They could just patch and sew the belt back together later... if Toadsworth didn't catch and chew Toadbert out first.
Slowly and carefully, they opened the book, not wanting to create any more damage. The pages were thick and of good quality, but they were fragile and musky of old age. Mario did the honors of turning the pages. He was careful not to tear them.
"Well, what does it say?" Starlow asked the reading plumber.
"I can't read this... I don't understand a word in this!" Mario exclaimed.
"Then, I hope there are pictures in there..." Luigi stated as he scanned the page Mario flipped for any photos or illustrations.
"Hey, what's that? It looks suspicious..." Dots and splotches of dark caught Luigi's attention.
"That's just dried ink, by boogity. It must have splattered when it was first written."
"Oh. My bad."
The book had several hundred pages, much to the frustration of everybody. It was hard enough to read a thick book. What more would it take to read a degraded, easily-torn, and rotting book? It didn't help that it was written in a language that no one knew of. Mario had torn the 31st page, earning him a painful nudge from
Toadbert and Starlow.
They scanned page after page for anything that could be related to the Dark Star's nightmare creature. They weren't even sure if this was the right book. If it wasn't, then they had to scan the whole library if they wanted to. Starlow had insisted that it wouldn't hurt to try. Luigi had complained that it already hurt his brain.
This went on for hours. It was already becoming dark outside, but the company didn't care. This was important, and they all had this sick feeling in the bottom of their stomachs that what was going to happen wouldn't end well. They were just about to give up on the book when something caught Luigi's eye. Fortunately, it wasn't another ink splotch.
...(Scuro's POV)...
For once, I wanted to have the nightmare again. I had a lot of questions to ask the dark creature and I wanted to know more about it. Yet I felt stupid for wanting to talk to a dream. It's just a trick of the mind; talking to it would be comparable to talking to abstractness. Then again, it might be something far more than that.
I assume it would be night by now... The plumbers and star sprite had left hours ago to search for more answers. I was irritated that they hadn't thought of asking their scholars for advice. It would have been faster if they did. They would have spared me from pointless questions. But at least we were getting somewhere mayhap.
I wonder what they were unraveling up there... What answers would surface and reveal themselves? I look forward to their return. They would tell me their progress and we would be one step closer to knowing.
But what happens when we get the answers? Would we be satisfied by just knowing what would happen? Most probably not.
They are heroes. They help those who are in need. If this would lead to a scenario where many would be endangered, there is no doubt they will be involved. I will also be involved in this... even if I am not a hero. I know my purpose is to destroy, but I cannot do so without the energy that drives me: dark power. I believe this being holds the answers to the dark power's misbehavior. If this being is responsible, then the plumbers and star sprite would destroy it for me, and everything will return back to the way it was. I would resume my reign of destruction, but there would be no mistakes this time... Not anymore.
But something tells me otherwise... This creature might be nonexistent. It might be just a lie. If it were that way, I don't know what else to do. I'm stuck here under this sorry excuse of a chamber. The only way I could escape is to be more... gentle. I don't want that... I would be weak and be more different. I don't want to change. I'd have to start all over again.
I growl under my breath. Just thinking about it stresses me. This is not good for me... Perhaps waiting things out like what I have done centuries back is a better decision. Stress wouldn't kill me, but it is uncomfortable... It feels like the world is on top of my shoulders, metaphorically speaking. I would rather dump the world and see it fall into the void than hold it up and keep it intact.
It was just too heavy to put up for long.
I try to clear my thoughts and go to sleep. It's no use stressing myself for nothing... But before I could close my eyes completely, I hear the plumbers and star sprite talking just outside the entrance. They have returned...
They approached me. They moved in closer but before I could growl them a warning, they stopped. They remembered to keep their space...
"Hey, Scuro... Sorry if we came in a little late." Starlow greeted me.
I snort back begrudgingly in greeting.
I saw the red one holding a large, black book. It was worn out and very fragile. A belt lolled on its side as if it were torn off. The bronze lock reflected the warm, orange light that my prison radiated. I stare at the book inquiringly, asking for a reason for its use here.
"We want to show you something... It's in this book." Mario stated as he opened the book for me to read. He turned it to a specific page. There was a dark illustration and a few articles on its left.
The photo showed a gem. It was pyramidal with a hexagonal base. Even though it was a defaulted gray and sketched illustration, it was notably black with little light reflecting off the edges. It cast a shadowy haze as the artist's creative rendering.
It looks vaguely familiar... I feel like I've seen this before, personally. Yet I don't exactly remember when or how I encountered it...
Before I could think much about it, Starlow spoke up, explaining the illustration to me. "Toadbert, one of our "scholars" as you'd put it, says there's a legend about this gem. According to him, this gem is called the 'Shade Crystal'. It possesses dark power and influences the shadows to the gem's beholder's will.
"This gem was the priority of many thieves throughout the kingdom. Who wouldn't want unimaginable power? Anyway, this gem was thought to have been sealed underground and reinforced with thick security. Though under a castle or a chapel would be more specific... Where it exactly is, no one knows.
"One night, it was stolen by a fierce warrior- one that none dared to fight. The guards were overpowered and he took the crystal away. Everyone scrambled to try and get the crystal back, but all have failed... For years, the warrior had never been found, along with the crystal.
"Everyone just thought to give up, considering that nothing major even happened during the crystal's disappearance. That was until something happened. Something destroyed four kingdoms... This something was a large and dark creature- I hope you get where this is going."
I nod. "This 'Shade Crystal' was taken away by a powerful warrior. The warrior and crystal were never found for years. Upon years of failure, they decided to give up. My nightmare creature revealed itself after that." I repeated, clarifying my understanding of this story.
She nodded in approval and continued. "So, yeah. This creature went through four kingdoms before things were finally taken into action. Well... We don't really know how the story goes, but the creature was defeated after a few days and several destroyed kingdoms. The legend didn't say if it was killed or sealed away, but it's gone anyways...
"The gem was found after the creature's defeat under a lot of rubble. It turns out, the warrior never left and had been disguising himself as one of a kingdom's royal researchers. He claimed to have used the crystal to save everyone, but no one bothered to listen. He was executed and the gem was returned to a distant kingdom's hands.
"Because of this event, the king whose responsibility now lay on the gem, hid it away. Not personally of course... He sent some of his soldiers to hide it away into one of the deepest and most isolated places in the world.
"But there are other versions, too. The first version being the one I just told you. A version says that it was destroyed, and another says it was... given to a creature that would guard it for all eternity."
She made a face at the last words as she said it. I snort back musingly, agreeing with the star sprite how dumb it seemed.
"So I take this crystal is gone and no one would be bothering it? Why would it be of importance to us? I see where this is going, star sprite, but I don't know if it should be bothered much.
"Yeah, I know. But doesn't it make sense that the Shade Crystal would've been found and manipulated by someone?"
"Yes. Yet you have stated that it might have also been destroyed."
"Hmmm... I guess so... But it's still a lead to our questions, right?"
I couldn't argue with that. This Shade Crystal may have been destroyed, but we are never sure. Yes, it is only a legend, but hadn't I been one too? I was casted away as a legend and forgotten, yet I reappeared proving anyone who thought of me as a simple story wrong. Why would it be any different with this crystal?
"Yes..." I answered. It felt weird feeling bad about being wrong, yet at the same time pleased with the fact that we now have a decent answer. "Where do we find it? I get that no one truly knows it's precise location, but do you have any other speculations of its whereabouts?"
"Uh, yeah! We asked Peach about it too. It turns out the crystal isn't somewhere around this kingdom. She said it was somewhere out to the northeast..." Starlow answered.
"Where specifically to the northeast?"
"Like I said, no one knows where exactly, but somewhere under a castle or a chapel. But since it was a long time ago, we'd be expecting a ruins or an abandoned kingdom..."
"Well," Mario clapped his hands together. "Whose up for another adventure?"
"We are!" Luigi cheered.
"I'm coming with you." I stated.
They stared back incredulously at me. It was clear they didn't want my company. No one wanted a dark and dangerous being as a travel companion. I am considered an enemy towards them, but this was out of necessity. "You need me in your quest. I have knowledge about the dark power. You will not be able to find it without me."
"We can do this on our own. Besides, as much as we like to share ideas with you, we don't trust you." Starlow answered back.
"Perhaps... But still, what are you to do with the crystal?"
"None of your business. We can share as much info about its whereabouts as much as we want, but you won't be able to know what we're going to do about it." Starlow was losing patience.
"We don't trust you. And if we do in fact find the crystal, you might reabsorb it's dark power like what you did with Dark Fawful." Mario continued.
This took me aback. They were smarter than I thought. Though admittedly, it was a cliche villain motive. Anyone would know I would have something to benefit me. I don't like saving the world or anything. I want to end everything... But I'd rather take it slowly. I'm patient, and all I need is for them to cooperate with me. It would be slow, but it is still progress nonetheless.
"I want to help. This will not benefit any of us if I do not accompany you. For one, I do not posses any dark power to use behind your back. You won't be expecting any betrayal. And just to be sure, if we do find the Shade Crystal, keep it away from me. I am sure you do not want any... complications." I try to sound as convincing as possible.
Starlow snorted. "What's in it for you, anyway? I mean, you're like: 'destroy everything!' We think you might want the return of your dark power after this, but you claim not. What would you get in saving the world?"
"None, admittedly, but give me freedom. Without dark power, I am not a threat, am I not? And if so, I would not be a bother to anyone. All I ask is my freedom. To prove my sincerity, I should assist you in your journey."
Luigi brought rubbed his chin and looked up in mock thought. "Tempting... Thanks but no thanks."
I was beginning to get frustrated. I am serving out my obedience on a silver platter and yet they toss it aside?! Yes, I may have partially lied, but they would still get what they want! If they're so independent, let us see if they are true to their word! "You don't need my help?... To prove you're worth, tell me how you can find this crystal. If you answer sensibly, then you can leave without my assistance. If you are clueless, then consider my company."
Starlow huffed. "Really?! Is that the worst you can get?!"
"That is an invalid argument, star sprite." I glare at her warningly. I'm playing a game here, but that doesn't mean this isn't serious.
"So what, we just find dead things and stuff to find dark power. Like everything's dark and gloomy and sad and cold and crap. It's too simple, Scuro! Why're you being so stubborn?!" Starlow snapped, unable to hold in her anger for longer.
A deep rumble escaped from my throat. "You're the stubborn one here, star sprite. I only wish to help, and yet you deny it. Yes, we had history of fighting, but that doesn't mean it should last. At least for now, consider me an ally."
That... came out rather differently than what I wanted to say. Yes, I needed a truce for this to work. But as a friend? That is... pathetic. But at least it caught the star sprite off guard. She stopped glaring at me and looked down in thought. The two brothers had slipped away back into the chamber entrance during the heat of the argument.
"At least consider the fact that you're getting something from this... You're going to save the world and all who dwell within." I continue, trying to bribe her into our deal.
"FINE! You're coming! But we're keeping all eyes on you!" She yelled at me. She stormed out of the chamber, the two brothers following suite.
Heh. I thought to give the Dark Star more character than just being bitter and emotionless. I thought I could give him a little pride, some arrogance, and a vague hint of innocence if you haven't noticed. Well, make sure to leave a review!